Faithful Followers

Monday, October 15, 2007

I was on ABC World News tonight! I know some of you caught it. While watching the segment, I should've been thinking, "I'm on TV! Cool!" Instead, the only thought going through my mind was the recollection of the Friends episode where the gang is watching an old video of Monica and she says, "...the camera adds ten pounds." To this, Chandler replies, "Just how many cameras do you have on you???" It's time to go visit my friends at Weight Watchers I think.

In every frame of the segment, I noticed my three year old jumping around like the monkey he is. And I just love the part where I tell him, "You get to have pudding for breakfast. No one else does!" Sounds like I'm bribing him, doesn't it? Not that I'm above a little bribery now and then, but my toddler had just had a tonsillectomy and was crying because he couldn't have a waffle. I was trying to explain that waffles were too scratchy for his throat and it was special that he got to have pudding for breakfast. Yep, that's me, perfect mom that I am, feeding my kid chocolate pudding for breakfast on national TV.

Anyway, the woman who interviewed me and wrote up the segment, Barbara Pinto, is awesome! She was so nice and, despite the fact that she leads a much more exciting life than I can imagine (she flew into a hurricane to cover the news!), she seemed genuinely interested in me. Here's the story she wrote on Mommy Bloggers.

Tooth Update~

I love my dentist! Whenever I have a tooth problem, this guy fits me in his schedule right away. I suspect he even skips his lunch time to see patients who have emergencies. He cracks me up too. He used to be so uptight when I'd have my kids there at the office. If he heard the baby, out in the waiting room with my husband, cry, "He'd get this worried look on his face and nervously ask, "Should you get the baby? I think I hear him crying. Do you want to go see what's wrong?" Now that he has a daughter of his own, his attitude has changed to one of, "Your baby's crying? Really? I didn't notice any crying." Funny how that works, isn't it?

Anyway, I lay down, got my pretty blue bib pinned on, and opened my mouth. My dentist took a look at my gums and said, "AAAEEEWWWW!" as he kind of jumped back. I'm thinking to myself, "this can't be a good thing when your dentist says 'Ew'." So he sticks a hunk of cardboard in my mouth to give my gag reflex a work-out while he takes an x-ray. The good news is the tooth is fine. Hooray! The bad news is that my gum is infected, however, a week of antibiotics and I should be good to go. Next week, he'll fill the first of many, many craters in my teeth.

Fridge update~

The repairman who came to my house last week told me that he'd have to order the part. Perfectly understandable that they wouldn't keep replacement parts on hand, them being an appliance repair service and all. He said it should be in by Saturday or at least by Monday. I hadn't heard anything from them, so I gave a call this afternoon and asked when they were expecting to get the part in stock. The girl on the other end of the phone replied, "Oh, we have that part in stock now." She made it sound like they'd had it forever."Umm ok, were you ever going to call and let me know? Do you realize I have a family of eight and we've been working without a refrigerator for a week?""Anyway, it's scheduled to be fixed on Wednesday.

Bye Bye Birdie update~

I misunderstood my son. He didn't have to sing a song from the movie. He just had to wear a costume and/or bring in a prop and talk about the musical from the chosen character's point of view, using that character's mannerisms, and speech patterns. Whew. He did his presentation today and didn't vomit or pass out. Life is good!

My daughter, in typical little kid fashion, jumped up and down again and again and again this evening while saying, "Look at me! Mom, look at me! Look what I can do! Mom, look! Watch me!" I eagerly watched to see what she'd come up with this time. I absolutely love watching the kids' impromptu shows; watching them sing, dance, or otherwise perform. This time, it was a gymnastics exhibition. My daughter put her hands down on the floor and kicked her legs up. Right into my face. Oh well, why not have both cheeks hurt? At least I can say I'm balanced. ;)

I am reading this and noticing the time. It's amazing that as Moms we seem to be in it for the long-haul at night. Here it is 11 PM and I am just now getting to my computer. Amazing how it feels like it was only 11 AM not long ago! My 5 year old son asked me one time, "Mommy, why do you stay up longer than me? Why don't you just go to bed like you tell me?"IF ONLY IF ONLY!!!! I wish I had the time, but unfortunately there is no maid that comes in and magically gets things done. Of course that works for my husband! Amazingly that little helper happens to be me.Congratulations on your success! You've made me enjoy laughing on those days when there seems to never be an end!Dawn in Kansas

Hi Dawn, I got on the ABC website because I missed the segment. I could read the article, but wasn't able to get the video to work. Have you been able to watch it online? I love your blog!! Thanks for all your doing for moms everywhere.

I think the moron repairman needs to be whacked in the head. How stupid is that to have the part in and not take care of the customer. Wonder if it has anything to do with not being wiling to pay the service charge. I would definitely complain big time!!!!!!!!!

What a relief for your son and you too that he doesnt have to and perform. Altho he'd probably be happy if he could just take the costume and hang it up and say this is the costume and wave his hand towards it.

Glad to hear your tooth isnt as bad as you thought!!!! Just think a few more quiet times at dentist and youll be smiling pretty!!!!

I missed you on tv. Though I rarely get to watch tv even the one my hubby put in kitchen has kids surrounding it most of the time. Especially the older ones!!! Most night I DVR shows I like to watch and stay up til 1 or 2 am catching up while I fold clothes vacuum and ect. Wish I had a heads up that it was going to be on!!! Oh well maybe one day I'll get to see ya!!!

Seriously call that repair place back and make heads roll!!!!! Take care, Elisabeth

I saw you on TV this evening. I think it's so awesome that mommybloggers are getting noticed. I started mine not too long ago. I haven't taken to writing about my daily experiences just yet. I want my blog to be more of a collection of articles and a place to learn how to make money from home. I guess you have scored there! I hope to reach your level soon!

I just finished reading the article about Mummy Bloggers (sorry, I'm too aussie to even type m-o-m-m-y!). What a great idea, to use your material for a sitcom. I can see parents around the world rolling around the floor laughing so hard that they cry already! You'll never know how often I split my sides laughing reading your blog, and having my kids asking "what so funny Mum?". Of course, they're not parents, so they never get what I find so hilarious!

Congrats on being aired on TV! Sorry I missed it. Hope you're feeling better with your meds soon. Gotta love a good doctor! He sounds like a keeper. I'd call the fridge warranty place and complain. We ended up getting all the money returned for our TV that malfunctioned while under warranty because of a snag in fixing it. And we got to keep the TV!

Hey Dawn!! I saw you yesterday on ABC news, all the way to Egypt!!!! you looked amazing. I was so thrilled, I actually thought i might miss it cause it was supposed to air a long time ago, but surprise surprise, i was watching the news yesterday and all of sudden you're there!! yay!!

I was washing dishes post-dinner when my husband went and turned the TV on. All of a sudden, over the sound of the water, I hear him say, "Do you read mommy blogs?"While I *did* take time to turn the water off, I RAN to the living room in time to catch the end of your interview! By the way, my rubber gloves dripped all over my nice hardwood floors 'cause I never took them off when I went to watch World News Tonight! Another chore I had to take care of... Sigh...

Last night as i was taking a moment for myself and playing music on my computer, my 8 yo begins to choreograph a ballet dance number to "Assassin's Tango" (the song played in the restaurant scene in the movie Mr & Mrs Smith). Of course, not to be left out of the attention giving, my 11 yo joins in. Life is good!

I happened to have the news on yesterday, and saw your segment. I remembered you saying it would be on and they cut you for something else. I was so glad I was watching the night they finally decide to broadcast it. I have been reading ever since the eBay auction. It was nice to see you and the children in action. Good luck with your book.

Sorry I missed the interview. I wish I'd caught it. Anyway, glad you aren't going to require a root canal--antibiotics are much easier. And hopefully life will be easier with a full size refrigerator. I really don't know how you've managed without it!

I saw you last night on TV!!! I was flipping channels and just happened to come across it. I read you blog every morning and just laugh! Thanks for the morning giggles. P.S. I think your family looked great on tv!!!

I am a new reader and enjoy your blog so much... Imagine my surprise when I flipped on the TV at 3 AM (yes that's right - I randomly flip channels at 3AM - the only time I have control of the remote)and saw a story on mommy bloggers. In my stupor, I suddenly realized, "Hey, I know her..... " Proudly, I was able to stay coherent for the entire story! You were awesome. I was glad to see the faces behind the blog....Nice to meet you. Don't worry about how you looked.... You should have seen me! ;0)

I missed the TV thing but just went and read it on their web site. It was great. I missed it cuz I was feeding 10 kids supper, My 7 + 3 daycare..I love your blog for one main reason it's familiar. And it's those things we might not see as funny at the time that when retold seem hilarious.

I saw that on the news! I walked into the kitchen and was like "OH! I KNOW WHAT THIS IS!" and my parents looked at me like I was nuts. Dad blinks a few times and goes "uhh yeah... it's the news..." to which I roll my eyes and say "yes but no. it's the news broadcast thing of the mom who writes the blog I read. she's awesome." my stepmother gets this offended/amused look on her face and says "if I started a blog would you think I was awesome?" no answer is necessary to this blasphemy.

Love the Blog! I want to know how you make so much money from blogging. I work with a site, but only make pennies a month. I desparately want to stay home with my kids, but need some extra money!! Can you help?!?!?!?

Let the Blogging BeginWell, thank you Jeannie, Dawn, and ABC for giving credibility to blogging. My good friend, that would be Jeannie, (and avid reader of the newspaper articles and small Magazine I design, write, and occasionally publish free to the public when we can afford to print it) saw Dawn’s story on ABC News. Knowing me, she called and said, “This is for you, it is what you were born to do.” Don’t you love when rhymes slip out like that?A few years ago, during one of my many searches for legit publishers and writing sources, I’d read about blogs and considered it, I think I even created one. But I had never heard of it or any actual people who did it, I asked my husband what he thought about my blogging and he said that it would be great if I started jogging. When I told my mother that I had thought of blogging on the internet she became distressed and said that she thought she had taught me better than that. SO, still searching for a way that I could write with a freedom of speech Celebrate Magazine was born, and although we have some subscribers, we have no advertisers, (enough said). Still, writing is like breathing to me. It relieves my stress, helps me think more clearly and has probably saved my life and the lives of others who I may have written a letter to then shredded!! LOL Seriously, writing is more about helping people in daily life and making them laugh. So today I join the jogging nation because of you Dawn, (I mean blogging nation). With my many personalities (I mean, points of view) it will be anything but boring. Perhaps you will give me a read at http:\\multidistracted.blogspot.com

I'm new at this. I actually was thinking about getting into this and I saw you on TV last night. Great story. I'm somewhat of a late bloomer when it comes to a stay at home mom. I was missing out with my son and decided that I couldn't miss out anymore. It was scary at first, but I have every bit of faith that it will work. After seeing story, believe it or not I got an extra boost from it.

Congrats for getting your story on ABC! Hahah, that comment you made about Chandler and Monika, priceless; so funny! I must commend you for just being yourself, writing about your family and getting a huge national television network interested in what you do. I just started blogging, although I don't have the hits you do! I'm going to email you because I need advice! Great job!

Hi, I went to the ABC site and I couldn't find a video, but the story is at http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3731658&page=1I'd love to see it, though! Do you think ABC would post a link to it on your site?

Saw you on TV!!!I guess I'm not one of your normal viewers...47 and single and CHILDLESS!!!Well, I do have an 81 year old Mama I live with.Actually, I've have very limited experience with children.I'm a Reference Librarian but with the State Library of Louisiana and we don't have a Children's Section.But your writing reminds me of Shirley Jackson's two books about her children called Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons. Yes, that Shirley Jackson who wrote the horror classics The Haunting of Hill House and The Lottery.I do remember growing up with 2 big brothers and my oldest brother was the one who could come up with some interesting ideas that would lead the rest of us into trouble. Keep up the good work!!!Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!

Dawn,I missed the interveiw! : ( Are you going to have a link for it so those you missed can see it. You're my hero... reading your blog lightens my day. I'm living vicariously through your success!! Good luck with everything.Mary in Arkansas

Hi Dawn, Guess who I saw today at noon on our city news channel in Alberta, Canada?? yup, it was YOU, in the flesh. They were wondering when you found time to blog with all those kids. LOL But the male news guy said Moms always have time to themselves about midnight. LOLLouise from Alberta, Canada

It was so cool to see you on tv last nite!!! I was practically jumping up and down telling my husband "THAT's the woman from eBay!! I read her blog!!!" LOL You have a beautful family....congrats on *everything*!!

I went to the dentist about three weeks ago to find out I had several new "craters" to fill, but that most of my previous ones were "old" and had to come out: to the tune of 13 (I know why it's not lucky) and 2 crown. That makes 3 for me. Am I a queen yet? The only good thing about all this is that I'm getting rid of the aluminum wheels in my mouth and my mouth doesn't actually look like a black hole (like I walk around with it open for everyone to see). Well, as much as I'm paying, now I do, who cares what they think!

LOL, I'm cracking up at all the people congratulating you on getting to keep your tooth! Now a corporate business person or some other professional employed outside the home might raise a puzzled brow at such a thing. Being the SAHM's that many of us are, however, between changing diapers, cleaning crumbs out of carseats, tackling mountains of laundry, getting dinner in the crock-pot, shuttling kids to sports practices and other myriad details we spend our days tending to... these...these are the small victories that we spend our days striving for! Corporate execs might delight in contracts landed, or increased quarterly profits...but our victories, though smaller, are no less important. Ours might not come in the form of a saved tooth, or a broken fridge miraculously still under warranty, but we've all been there in our own way and do rejoice right along with you, Dawn, because these, these are the days of our lives.

Dear Dawn- It's Wed. and I just read your post on Mon about the visit to the dentist. I must tell you that as a dental hygienist, your gums may have an infection due to STRESS!!!!YES, STRESS...as if STress doesn't screw up everything else in our lives, it is also a common factor in why one develops gingivitis!!!! GREAT. PLEASE don't take the advice I've read in your comments about getting dentures! HELLO-OOO! That's the worst thing to tell anyone unless your teeth are periodontal-laden!! I live in Mississippi and OH at the mouths we treat, I've seen some beauties let me tell you. But someone who is young, and beautiful with a little gingivitis is easier to fix than your FRIDGE!!!! Take those Antibiotics and FLOSS! HA! GET REAL- I'm a mom too so who has time for that?! As I floss my patients teeth I often wonder - Did I floss my own this week? heheheTake Care and keep seeing that Dentist- HE SOUNDS Like a Great guy!-Take careMoM in Mississippi- or should I say Tooth Fairy in Miss!!!!

(Hint: it's the same reason they rarely comb their hair or complete a thought.)

If Leonardo and Al ever wonder why the average American mom is not embracing the Green Movement with zeal and passion, all they need do is read this hilarious eBay auction:

This posting is written by the woman who writes mom2my6pack.blogspot.com. She auctioned off some Pokemon cards she purchased after her kids threw the pack in her cart unbeknownst to her. I don't think I've ever seen the routine hilarious madness of a mom's typical day described with this much accuracy. If Melissa Etheridge can handle what this mom is managing and simultaneously find a way to do the ingredient checks, price comparisons, and careful scrutiny to ensure that no phthalates will leach from the plastic bottles, no non-organic matter went into the cracker production, and no pesticides were sprayed on the apples, well then hell, she deserves more than that Oscar….